TEMPEST BREWING OVER MOVIE!
CONSIDERING THE BACKLASH
THIS PATHETIC MOVIE IS
ALREADY RECEIVING
I'M PROUD THE DISABILITY
ORGANIZATIONS AROUND THE US
ARE BANDING TOGETHER:
ONE VOICE.
AWESOME!
While I don't believe in telling
people to "boycott" - I like
to think most people have their
own sense of right and wrong
and not have to "follow the crowd"
and can make their own decisions.
One reason why I admire my friends
is that they do think for
themselves - but I feel I have
to put this out there - being
an advocate and all.
There is a movie about to be
released "Tropic Thunder"
its an offense and I plan not to see it.
There is nothing funny about picking on
a segment of our population that is
already vulnerable,laughed at,
feared and shunned.
Please read the following article
and make up your own mind.
I know this may be hypocritical
(I"ll say it so you dont have to
behind my back) that once in a while
I hang with MP on the Idiots blog.
(Nothing against you MP - but
thought I'd put it out there first.)
I hope you will read this article
What 'Tropic Thunder' Thinks Is Funny
By Timothy Shriver
Monday, August 11, 2008; A15
I've been told to keep my sense of humor
about the film "Tropic Thunder,"
which opens this week.
Despite my requests, I have not
been given the chance to see the movie.
But I've seen previews, read about it
and read excerpts of the script. By all accounts, it is an unchecked assault on the humanity of people with intellectual disabilities -- an affront to dignity, hope and respect.
Consider this exchange:
Ben Stiller's character: "There were times when I was doing Jack when I actually felt retarded. Like really retarded."
Robert Downey Jr.'s character: "Oh yeah. Damn."
Stiller: "In a weird way, I had to sort of just free myself up to believe that it was okay to be stupid or dumb."
Downey: "To be a moron."
Stiller: "Yeah."
At another point, about acting like a person with intellectual disabilities, they say:
Stiller: "It's what we do, right?"
Downey: "Everybody knows you never do a full retard."
Stiller: "What do you mean?"
Downey: "Check it out. Dustin Hoffman, 'Rain Man,'
look retarded, act retarded, not retarded.
Count toothpicks to your cards. Autistic, sure. Not retarded. You know Tom Hanks, 'Forrest Gump.' Slow, yes. Retarded, maybe. Braces on his legs. But he charmed the pants off Nixon and won a ping-pong competition. That ain't retarded. You went full retard, man. Never go full retard."
I worked with the Farrelly brothers on a film on this topic. I know about edgy comedy. I'm also told that movies are equal-opportunity offenders.
So here's an equal-opportunity response to the equal-opportunity offenders:
People with intellectual disabilities are routinely abused, neglected, insulted, institutionalized and even killed around the world. Their parents are told to give up, that their children are worthless. Schools turn them away. Doctors refuse to treat them. Employers won't hire them. None of this is funny.
For centuries, they have been the exception to the most basic spiritual principle: that we are each equal in spirit, capable of reflecting the goodness of the divine, carriers of love. But not people with intellectual disabilities. What's a word commonly applied to them? Hopeless.
Let's consider where we are in 2008. Our politics are about overcoming division, our social movements are about ending intolerance, our great philanthropists promote ending poverty and disease among the world's poor. Are people with intellectual disabilities included in the mainstream of these movements? For the most part, no.
Why? Because they're different. Their joy doesn't fit on magazine covers. Their spirituality doesn't come in self-help television. Their kind of wealth doesn't command political attention. (The best of the spirit never does.)
Sadly, they're such an easy target that many people don't realize whom they are making fun of when they use the word "retard." Most people just think it's funny. "Stupid, idiot, moron, retard." Ha, ha, ha.
I know: I could be too sensitive. But I was taught that mean isn't funny. And I've been to institutions where people with intellectual disabilities are tied to beds or lie on concrete floors, forgotten. I've heard doctors say they won't treat them. I know Gallup found that more than 60 percent of Americans don't want a person with an intellectual disability at their child's school.
I've talked to people with intellectual disabilities who cry over being insulted on a bus. I've received too many e-mails from people who are devastated not by their child's disability but by the terror of being laughed at, excluded and economically devastated.
It wasn't funny when Hollywood humiliated African Americans for a generation. It's never funny when good and decent human beings are humiliated. In fact, it is dangerous and disgusting.
This film is all that and more. DreamWorks went so far as to create a mini-version of Simple Jack and posted it online. The studio has since pulled it down, realizing it had gone too far, even in an age of edgy, R-rated comedies.
So, enough. Stop the hurtful jokes. Talk to your children about language that is bullying and mean. Ask your friends, your educators, your religious leaders to help us to end the stubborn myth that people with intellectual disabilities are hopeless. Ask Hollywood to get on the right side of dignity.
I hope others will join me in shutting this movie out of our lives and our pocketbooks. We don't live in times when labeling and humiliating others is funny. And we should send that message far and wide.
The writer is chairman of Special Olympics and a columnist for washingtonpost.com's On Faith discussion site.
Create your own visitor map!
Reader Comments
Page: 1 | 2 | 3 — Blog Index
GOOD MORNING PYRATES
FAR AND NEAR
Just add rum.
So if Jim Cantore and Chuck Norris both show up at the same place, does the storm still go there?
We need Chuck Norris to head up the Wuba Troops.
I didn't have time to really read your header, but I'm going to. I did catch this: "I could be too sensitive. But I was taught that mean isn't funny."
Mean isn't funny, and a good bit of what is presented as humor today is sheer meanness. I opened the mental-closet door and looked at my soapbox for a minute, but I'll refrain for now.
Thanks for the post. I would have missed all this otherwise.
Enjoy the day!
breakfast is served!
showed up at the same place, the world
would just....end.
No Alley haven't heard a word from Damon.
trying to just keep positive.
shore - meanness just s*cks - bad for karma points indeed.
thanks Amy - and I'm off for breakfast myself.
my tv works again and this morning
will sit there and intake all the
mindless garbage i have missed the
past couple of weeks - just when my brain cells were up and working
again -
then going to work
have a great day.
Hi Emmy have a wonderful day - I know you will!
I am glad that you got to see some of the Olympics. You are right, Phelps is one lean mean swimming machine. I hope that he remains a nice guy despite all of the hype and the coming attention after the Olympics. He is making America proud!
How is your theater going? It seems to me that your creative juices are in full swing.
Have a great day, Pros :)
maybe he wants to get
Ben Stiller into his
cult. Go for it, Ben!
Proserpina - yeah it was
heart thumping that swim
meet - and heart breaking
the gymnastics - but like
I said before, if I can roll
out of bed and land on my
feet in the morning its a
:10: in my book LOL
Yep very busy at theatre
all of a sudden you have
to kick in the creative
juices within 24 hours
oh for those lazy hazy
brain daze of summer....
off I go....I JUMP
Local Arc Chapter Leaders,
The Arc of Texas, in collaboration with other disability advocacy organizations though out the nation, urges your immediate action regarding the film “Tropic Thunder”. This movie, through its inappropriate language and overwhelmingly insensitive content, demonstrates complete disregard for the dignity of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities everywhere.
Over the past few days The Arc has had the opportunity to meet and voice their objections concerning the film’s hurtful content with DreamWorks Executives. Unfortunately, these conversations did not produce a satisfactory resolution. As a result, The Arc is requesting that all local chapters strongly and actively encourage their membership and others in their community, to boycott this film. We live in a nation that prides itself on equality, acceptance and concern for its citizens. It is sad that we have to spend so much time and energy addressing issues that should long be relics of the past. With that said, it is imperative that we present to the public a consistent and unified message condemning this film.
The movie will show beginning Wednesday, August 13th. As always thank you all for your time and efforts. Please feel free to contact me with any questions you might have.
Sincerely,
Chris Rodriguez
Director of Chapter Services
The Arc of Texas
From: NDSC [mailto:ndsc@ndsccenter.org]
Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2008 2:38 PM
To: Recipient: Newsline
Subject: NDSC Update: Tropic Thunder
TO: NDSC Members and Friends
FROM: David Tolleson
Executive Director
August 12, 2008
Two weeks ago, the National Down Syndrome Congress joined with other national disability rights organizations to address the new DreamWorks Studios film, “Tropic Thunder”. In conversations with studio executives, our coalition was led to believe that the offending portions of the film were minor and obviously satirical, and would have little impact.
However, last Friday, NDSC Resource Specialist Sue Joe and I were able to see an advanced screening of the film. Journalist Pat Bauer was also in attendance and gives an excellent overview of the film on her blog (www.patriciaebauer.com).
The offending parts comprise a major plot line and, as feared, are already leading to the sale of such items as t-shirts screaming, “You Never Go Full Retard!” Yesterday, other national leaders saw the film. The coalition has called for a nationwide boycott. The first one was held last night at the Hollywood premiere. You can see CNN coverage at Pat Bauer’s website and view the Washington Post article at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/12/AR2008081200321.html?sub=AR.
In addition, this story has also been picked up by ABC News (http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=5560702&page=1), The New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/11/movies/11thun.html?ref=movies), National Public Radio (http://www.npr.org/templates/player/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=93531103&m=935310 72), Access Hollywood, and press in Australia, Great Britain, and elsewhere.
What can you do to help?
Contact your local affiliate. Over the past week, we have been in touch with leaders from across the country. Many groups are coordinating their efforts with groups such as The Arc and Special Olympics, and protests are planned for Wednesday, when the film opens across the country, through next Sunday.
Write an Op-Ed piece for your local newspaper, or a letter to the editor regarding discrimination against individuals with disabilities.
Reading all of the hurtful and hateful comments posted on blogs in response to the boycott can be hard to take. But you could respond—tell your side of the story. Freedom of speech works in our favor, too.
Consider contacting your local school principal and ask them to be on the lookout for disruptive “Tropic Thunder” merchandise or bullying behavior. A sample letter, provided by the Connecticut Down Syndrome Congress, is attached.
Does your local theatre employ self advocates? We heard of one theatre who has decided to pull the movie after speaking with an employee. Another theatre is allowing a self advocate employee to distribute literature to those attending the show.
Share this excellent video, produced by 2008 NDSC Media Award winner Will Schermerhorn for The Arc of Northern Virginia: www.blueberryshoes.com/psa.
Visit Special Olympics’ new site www.r-word.org. Take the pledge to support the elimination of the word, and pass the link on to your friends so they can take the pledge, too.
If you have a middle or high school age sibling returning to school, or off to band camp, football practice, etc., urge them to share with their friends why words hurt and why they should not patronize “Tropic Thunder”. This age group will be a key battleground.
Sign the online petition at www.ipetitions.com/petition/stopTropicThunder?e.
Though we’re in a busy time of year, with the end of summer vacation and the beginning of school, I believe this is a watershed moment in the disability rights movement. It has been a long time, if ever, that so many national and local organizations have banded together to say, “enough is enough”. ANYTHING you can do is better than doing nothing. Please make every effort to lend your aid – and spread the news – right away. It’s time to put the nation on notice that we will not sit quietly by while our fellow self advocates, friends, children, siblings and co-workers are attacked. People with disabilities have rights and value, and deserve respect.
Thank you for your advocacy.
David Tolleson
Executive Director
WOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
teens and thats not a good thing
considering school is about to start
i would question the taste of
any adult who would spend $9 to
see this -
thanks pat for that
i needed something wonderful
to come across my screen today
my work email is burning up
with this movie
hot topic
ouch.
never fear, the purple hippo is here, spreading love and joy to all....
:)
for the job he wants
So, why am I dressed up like a pirate
in this restaurant?
It's all because some hacker
stole my identity
Now I'm in here every evening
serving chowder and iced tea!"
;)
thanks for the second laugh of the day
I love that song
now...i have to go to a board meeting
think i'll still be smiling in an hour
bets are on.
I hope that all is going well. Thanks for stopping by and reading about the hawks coming back.
You can put me on the boycott list, I do not find anything funny about somebody that has a disability. I have not seen much on this movie other then the bad press it has been getting.
Well enjoy the rest of the week, I get to work again, but it will be day shift though.
Kai
CGal - yeah and right before school starts
one step forward - two steps back
but I believe we will all walk out
on this movie together -
picking on me - who cares I"m big enough
to take the garbage
pick on my disabled kids and you got
major major problems.
Yep captain kickbutt LOLOLOL
have a great night.
MS ARBY
Viewing: 101 - 129
Page: 1 | 2 | 3 — Blog Index